Connector for electrified ceiling grid

Abstract

A connector assembly for installation on a ceiling grid having conductors therein. Contacts are mounted in a housing of the connector, with the contacts having contact portions. Mounting members are mounted in the housing, with the mounting members having grid mounting sections. A cam member is provided in the housing, with the cam member being movable between a first position and a second position. As the cam member is moved from the first position to the second position, the cam member biases the contact portions of the contacts into electrical engagement with the conductors of the ceiling grid and biases the grid mounting sections of the mounting members into mechanical engagement with the ceiling grid to provide a mechanical connection between the ceiling grid and the connector.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector for installation on a ceiling grid having conductors therein, the connector comprising:
 a housing; 
 contact arms mounted in the housing and movable between a first position in which contact portions of the contact arms are not placed in electrical engagement with the conductors and a second position in which the contact portion are place in electrical engagement with the conductors when the connector is mated with the ceiling grid; 
 mounting members movable between a first position in which grid mounting sections of the mounting members are not placed in mechanical engagement with the ceiling grid and a second position in which the grid mounting sections are placed in mechanical engagement with the ceiling grid to provide a mechanical connection between the ceiling grid and the connector; 
 a cam member provided in the housing, the cam member extending through openings is opposed side walls of the housing and being movable between a first position, in which the cam member allows the contact arms to be in their first position and the mounting members to be in their first position, and a second position, in which the cam member causes the contact arms and mounting members to be biased to their respective second positions. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cam member has camming surfaces which cooperate with the contact arms and the mounting members as the cam member is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       3. The connector as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the camming surfaces are included projections. 
     
     
       4. The connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cam member has operator engagement areas which extend from the openings in the opposed side walls of the housing. 
     
     
       5. The connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a device mating contact is provided on the housing, the device mating contact provided to make electrical engagement with a low voltage device. 
     
     
       6. The connector as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the device mating contact is configured to provide a mechanical engagement between the connector and the low voltage device. 
     
     
       7. The connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting members are positioned in cavities of the housing which limit the movement of the connector mounting members between the first and the second position. 
     
     
       8. The connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein grid mounting sections of the mounting members have projections which extend therefrom, the projections cooperate with upper surfaces of flanges of ceiling grid when the mounting members are moved to the second position. 
     
     
       9. The connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cam member is a linear member which extends in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector. 
     
     
       10. A connector for installation on a ceiling grid having conductors therein, the connector comprising:
 a housing; having a device mating contact provided to make electrical engagement with a low voltage device; 
 contact arms mounted in the housing, the contact arms having contact portions; 
 mounting members mounted in the housing, the mounting members having grid mounting sections; 
 a cam member provided in the housing, the cam member being movable between a first position and a second position; 
 wherein as the cam member is moved from the first position to the second position, the cam member biases the contact portions of the contact arms into electrical engagement with the conductors of the ceiling grid and biases the grid mounting sections of the mounting members mechanical engagement with the ceiling grid to provide a mechanical connection between the ceiling grid and the connector. 
 
     
     
       11. The connector as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the cam member has camming surfaces which cooperate with the contact arms and the mounting members as the cam member is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       12. The connector as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the camming surfaces are included projections. 
     
     
       13. The connector as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the cam member has operator engagement areas which extend from opposed side walls of the housing. 
     
     
       14. The connector as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the device mating contact is configured to provide a mechanical engagement between the connector and the low voltage device. 
     
     
       15. The connector as recited in  claim 10 , wherein grid mounting sections of the mounting members have projections which extend therefrom, the projections cooperate with upper surfaces of flanges of ceiling grid when the mounting members are moved to the second position. 
     
     
       16. The connector as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the cam member is a linear member which extends in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector. 
     
     
       17. A connector for installation on a ceiling grid having conductors therein, the connector comprising:
 a housing; 
 contact arms mounted in the housing, the contact arms having contact portions; 
 mounting members mounted in the housing, the mounting members having grid mounting sections; 
 a cam member provided in the housing, the cam member being movable between a first position and a second position, the cam member being a linear member which extends through openings in opposed side walls of the housing in a direction which is essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector; 
 wherein as the cam member is moved from the first position to the second position, the cam member biases the contact portions of the contact arms into electrical engagement with the conductors of the ceiling grid and biases the grid mounting sections of the mounting members mechanical engagement with the ceiling grid to provide a mechanical connection between the ceiling grid and the connector. 
 
     
     
       18. The connector as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the grid mounting sections of the mounting members have spaced projections which extend therefrom, the spaced projections cooperate with upper surfaces of flanges of ceiling grid when the mounting members are moved to the second position.